Felipe Awi

The Globe

Pedro Trengrouse, 29 years old, graduated from the prestigious FIFA MBA and now at Flamengo: "There is no other way than through the professionalization of sports management"

The clash between professionalism and amateurism put a damper on the business within three years, but it was enough time for him to realize the potential of the sports industry. With a degree in economics and an MBA in marketing, he runs the fan membership programs for Fluminense, Botafogo, Palmeiras, and Coritiba. He also manages online and offline stores featuring licensed soccer team merchandise.

- By 2014, sports professionals will be increasingly valued and football will be an increasingly consumed product - he states.

This is one of the few predictions Bruno allows himself to make. Accustomed to dealing with financial market fluctuations, he's learned that it's even less advisable to make guarantees in sports. The soccer market is unique: it fluctuates according to on-field results, which are unpredictable. To better understand it, lawyer Pedro Trengrouse spared no effort. After completing his law degree, he was accepted into the prestigious MBA in sports administration offered by FIFA, soccer's governing body. Every year, there are 25 spots for around a thousand applicants. Those accepted invest US$20 in the course, which is taught in three countries: England, Italy, and Switzerland. It involves 14 months of classes with sports authorities. Pedro is convinced he's on the right track heading into 2014.

"The World Cup will bring investment and infrastructure improvements to Brazil, but its greatest legacy will be human capital. Finally, we will have enough people prepared to work in the sports industry, which currently represents 4% of the country's GDP," he states.

Since returning in 2004, Pedro has worked for the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), participated in the professionalization of the Bahian Football Federation, and now works for Flamengo. His latest venture is directly related to the 2014 World Cup. Last week, he was part of the Ministry of Sports delegation that traveled to London to learn about the security projects for the 2012 Olympics. The goal is to replicate them here later.

"We've always been a First World player in football, supplying raw materials, that is, developing players. It can't be any different when it comes to its management. There's no other way than through the professionalization of sports management," he states.

Pedro is well aware of the consequences of amateurism in Brazilian sports. Before moving to Europe, he worked for the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation, a classic example of outdated management. Today, he still sits at the negotiating table with volunteer directors, but he already sees an evolution in the mindset of the club's directors. It will be harder to find someone like him who works for a club he's not a fan of. A Tricolor fan by birth, Pedro is a direct advisor to Flamengo president Márcio Braga.

- Professionals don't have a team, they teach